Up for sale, a 1994 Gibson Les Paul Classic Premium Plus in exceptional, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case, hangtags and Gibson/Yamano factory paperwork. The highest tiered iteration of the Les Paul Classic, this highly figured Premium Plus was designed with the 1960 Les Paul Standard as the jumping off point, boasting many features that are in-line with the golden era of Les Paul production including a deep dish top carve and slight return at the binding edge, correct '50s headstock shape, push-in tuner bushings, ABR-1 bridge, and a slimmer 1960 neck profile.

This particular Premium Plus features a Honey Burst gloss nitro lacquer finish, highlighting deep, broad three-dimensional flame figuring that extends across every inch of the top. It's no coincidence that this Les Paul was ordered by Gibson's Japanese distributor Yamano, as Gibson's USA-made guitars distributed via Yamano are often considered among their best, featuring the highest quality woods picked for Gibson's discerning Japanese audience.

This Gibson has a solid (non-weight relieved) mahogany body capped with a carved two-piece maple top, offering plenty of power and cut, with ample sustain which translates well through the original 496R and 500T humbucker pair. Some of Gibson's most hotly wound ceramic magnet humbuckers, the 496R delivers a biting, bluesy edge with notable treble detail and an increase in harmonics, while the 500T delivers a rich combination of enhanced lows and crystal clear highs, wax potted for ideal feedback rejection in high gain scenarios. Weighing 9lbs 5oz, this Les Paul has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and spot-on intonation.

The one-piece mahogany neck has a slender and fast-feeling '60s-style C-shaped profile carve with just enough roundness in the shoulders, measuring .795” deep at the 1st fret and .905” at the 12th. The rosewood fretboard has clear (un-yellowed) pearloid trapezoid inlay and original fretwire which has plenty of meat and well-rounded crowns, showing only light wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-5. This guitar plays cleanly in all registers with a straight neck, and the truss rod is responsive and adjusted for ideal relief. The scale length is 24 3/4" and the nut measures 1 11/16" in width. The headstock sports a Classic-embossed truss rod cover, pearl Gibson inlay, and Les Paul Classic gold silkscreen. The original set of Kluson-style Gibson Deluxe tuning machines turn smoothly and hold accurate pitch, with very lightly greened keystone buttons and push-in bushings.

All of the electronics function as intended, with the 496R and 500T pickups wired to the stock harness with untouched solder joints and CTS pots that date to the 46th week of 1994. The bridge pickup cavity retains the penciled “LPPP” designation, translating to "Les Paul Premium Plus.” The nickel-plated ABR-1 bridge and stopbar have a consistent dusting of surface patina, and plastics comprise the quartet of gold bonnet knobs, amber switch tip, cream pickup surrounds, and the single-ply pickguard.

The Honey Burst nitro lacquer gloss finish showcases the notably broad and three-dimensional flame figuring in the maple. It’s an eye-catching and unique top, framed by ambered body binding. Cosmetic wear is limited to a scant few minor dings along the lower bout body edge and a few faint finish scratches in the clear coat of the gloss on the body as a whole, largely relegated to the back. The smooth gloss on the neck profile is flawless.

The original brown Gibson USA hardshell case with pink plush interior is included, along with the Gibson/Yamano factory paperwork and hangtags.